Arcuately shaped ring catcher

ABSTRACT

An amusement device having two operable elements normally spaced apart from each other to receive a projectile therebetween wherein the elements are flexed to a projectile engaging position by a player to retain the projectile between the elements of the device.

United States Patent Robertson et al. 1 Oct. 9, 1973 [54] ARCUATELY SHAPED RING CATCHER 2,321,835 6/1943 Marlow 273/102 R l 2 R 1 Clyde Robe-1m, Box 79; Glen 13212; 131135; P2112 3.7. 423???) Rahm, R.F.D. No. 4, Box lO4-B, both of Swamon Ohm 43558 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [22] Filed: Feb. 10, 1972 Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind [21] P No: 225,034 Attorney-Wilson & Fraser A STRA [52] US. Cl. 273/95 R, 273/102 R, 273/106 B [57] B CT [5]] Int. Cl A63b 72/02 amusement device havmg two Operable elements [58] Field of Search 273/95 R, 96 R, 102 R, normally Spaced apart from each other to receive a 273 00; 24 0 projectile therebetween wherein the elements are flexed to a projectile engaging position by a player to 5 References Cited retain the projectile between the elements of the de -vice.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Fignres 1 ARCUATELY SHAPED RING CATCIIE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Amusement devices employing projectiles and catching apparatus for the projectiles are known inthe game art. Examples of such amusement devices includes stakes mounted upright in the ground onto which the rings are tossed; sticks mounted on handles with shields to prevent the ring-shaped projectiles from passing over the handle portion grasped by the user; and the addition to the above sticks of discs on the end opposite the handle of a smaller diameter than the ring to increase the difficulty with which the ring can be caught thereby requiring greater skill on the part of the individual using the device.

All of the above devices require proper manuevering by an individual player of at least one of the components to bring about an intersecting of the projectiles with the catching device.

The present device requires an additional maneuver on the part of the individual player. As the ring projec-. tile of the present inventionintersects the catching device, as a result of the individual maneuvering the catching device with respect to the ring projectile, a clamping motion must be imparted to the catching device, by the individual player, precisely at the moment of intersection of the ring' projectile andcatching device.

An amusement device incorporating the features of the invention requires considerable .skill to retain the projectile and also requires the coordination of two motor skills by the individual using it. Thus, it can be used as a game having an increased modicum of challenge, imparting interest and'enjoyment to the game, and can be enjoyed as a teaching device for developing coordination of motor skills.

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION teaching and developing coordination of motor skills and as a game of amusement. U

The catching means for the projectile includes two spaced apart elements capable of being flexed into projectile engaging relation. A base member is employed to maintain the spacing between the elements which are capableof being grasped together in the player's hands in proximity to the base in proximal portions of the elements. Distal portions of the elements are capable of being flexed into projectile engaging relati'on by tightening the grasp on the proximal portions of the elements causing the elements to move in a clamping action to enable the device to retain a thrown projectile therebetween.

In one embodiment of the invention, a ring and a ring catching device both include elongate resilient elements, such as nylon tubes with a tube formed into a ring, and a pair of tubes with the ends thereof attached to a base forming elements with distal ends having arcuate segments smaller than the diameter of the'associated ring projectile. The elements are maintained by I the base in similar or conforming arcuate form opposing each other and spaced from one another a greater distance than the thickness of the ring. The spacing between the element is sufficient to permitboth elements to be simultaneously grasped by theplayers hands and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the catching device of the invention; I

FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating the ring projectile of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a composite perspective view illustrating the ring of FIG. 2 engaged by the catching device of FIG. 1 together with the hand of the user in the grasping posltion. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, a catching device noted generally by the numeral 10 has a base 12 to which two elements in the fonn of slender elongate resilient tubes 14 preferrably made of polyvinyl plastic material, are affixed by their proximal portions. The distal portions of the elements are arcuate segments 16 normally assumed by the resilient tubes 14 when the ends 18 thereof are inserted into apertures in the rectangular base 12, and affixed thereto by conventional means, for example, adhesively bonded. The base 12 is necessary to maintain the tubes 14 in spaced relation to each other.

It is to be understood that bases 12 could be formed of other shapes and could typically be formed from any number of suitable materials, such as wood, plastic, ny-

. Ion, or metal, for example. The tubes 14 could be attached to the base 12 by means other than receiving apertures, for example, by pegs projecting from the base 12 into the tubes 14 or an adhesive bond to the surface of the base 1 2. Further, the base.l2 need not be unitary because the requirement of the base 12 for constructing the catching device 10 is only that it maintain the tubes 14 in opposed spaced apart relation to each other. Thus, where the tubes 14 are not resilient in the plane containing the arcuate segments 16, the base 12 could-consist of rods or tubes interconnecting each of the opposing ends 18 of the tubes 14 or any other suitable means for connecting the proximal portions of the elements.

As noted above, the tubes 14 illustrated are preferrably formed of polyvinyl plastic, other resilient materials, such as nylon could be used. Sufficient resiliency need exist in the catching device 10 to allow the tubes 14 to be engaged one by the other at their distal portions, arcuate segments 16 in FIG. 1. Elements other than the tubes 14 illustrated could be used, for example, rods, bars or planar structures, and the resiliency of the catching device 10 can exist in the means connecting the proximal portions of the elements as well as in the elements themselves.

In the preferred embodiment, the catching device I0 is used in combination with a ring-shaped projectile 20, illustrated in FIG. 2, of annular configuration formed from an elongate tube 22 joined by abutting the ends 24 thereof in a secure manner, as for example, with a dole 2l interconnecting the opposed ends. The ring 20 may be made of resilient material such as nylon, spring steel or similar materials, and may be formed of solid stock as well as tubular stock. Further, the ring 20 may be formed as a continuous or endless element. Shapes other than annular may be used, for example, elliptical. An alternative to the ring 20 would be a planar member such as a disc.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the catching device is grasped. Either side of the proximal portions of the elements may be used with a single hand grasping both elements. By tightening the grasp on the tubes 14 elements, the distal portions thereof moved toward each to retain the ring therebetween. The ring 20 may be retained either by the elements engaging opposite sides of a portion of the ring 20 or by engagement of the elements within the opening in the ring 20. Thus, the ring 20 is preferrably made with a large center opening to facilitate the more secure engagement of the ring 20 wherein the tubes 14 arebrought into engagement within the opening in the ring 20. Typically, the ring 20 is formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the distance from the base 12 to the outermost extent of the arcuate segment 16 so that the base 12 is engaged by the ring 20 passing between the tubes 14 toward the base 12 to prevent the outermost portion of the ring 20 from passing the arcuate segment 16 thereby facilitating the catching of the ring 20. The degree of skill required of a person using the catching device 10 can be increased or decreased by the decrease and increase, respectively, of the spacing maintained between the elements in their relaxed or opposed positions, and by the relative sizes of the tubes 14 with respect to the diameter of the ring 20. The larger the diameter of the ring 20 relative to the elements of the catching device 10, particularly the arcuate segments 16 of the device illustrated, the lessskill required by the person using the device.

There are a variety of ways in which the catching device 10 and the ring projectile 20 may be utilized. The simplest way would be for a person to grasp the catching device 10 in one hand, toss the ring 20 up into the air with the other hand, and catch the ring 20 in the catching device 10 upon its return toward the ground. In order to retain the ring 20, the catching device 10 must be maneuvered to intersect the ring 20 in a manner which allows the ring 20 to pass between the tubes 14 at which moment the grasp on the catching device 10 must be tightened to flex the tubes 14 and engage either the ring 20 or the distal portion of the tubes 14 within the opening in the ring 20. if the tightening required for the clamping action of the catching device 10 occurs too early, the ring 20 will not be allowed to enter between the tubes 14, while if occurring after the ring 20 has passed between the tubes 14 will be of no avail in retaining the ring 20. The coordination of the motor skills of maneuvering the catching device 14 with the clamping action thereof are useful in developing gross motor skills and their accuracy. Eye and hand coordination are aided by use of the amusement device herein described. Further, it will be appreciated that the device is particularly suited for use in the fields of physical education and perceptual training.

in developing the motor skills of a pupil, a teacher may throw the ring 20 to the pupil in a manner whereby little maneuvering of the device 10 is required by the pupil to intersect the ring 20. It has been found that in such simple procedures, the ring 20 should be thrown so that the plane of its major dimension is oriented in the same plane as the tubes 14 of the catching device 10.

Another use of the catching device 10 and the ring 20 would be a game of two or more players wherein the ring 20 is thrown to a player to be caught within the catching device 10 and returned by the player for catching with the catching device ['0 by the player having thrown the ring 20. A catch results in a score with the player determining the scoring basis to determine a game and the distance between the players, etc.

In the preferred embodiment, the materials for constructing the catching device 10 and ring 20, in particular the tubes 14 and 22 are thin walled for light weight and flexible construction making them suitable for indoor as well as outdoor use. Further, the flexibility of the above members in combination with the smooth surfaces and curvatures of the arcuate segments 16 and ring 20 make the apparatus safe for use, especially for younger children. All sharp corners and'edges have been eliminated, and the ring 20 and the tubes 14 are of such light weight and flexible construction as to be non-injurious even if it were to strike a player. The major mass of the catching device 10, the base 12, is always behind the hand of the user thereby eliminating the hammer effect of devices which have masses at the extremities outermost from the grasping portion and all obtrusive pointed articles such as sticks have been eliminated.

in accordance withthe provisions of the patent statues, the principle and mode of operation of the apparatus have been explained and what is considered to represent its best embodiment has been illustrated and described. lt should however, be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.

We claim:

1. In an amusement device including an annularly shaped projectile and catching means for the projectile, the improvement comprising: said catching means ineluding a base member supportingly connecting two normally spaced apart elongate arcuate resilient elements, said arcuate elements having a radius smaller than the radius of said annularly shaped projectile said elements capable of being flexed into projectile engaging relationship.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of said annularly shaped projectile exceeds the distance from said base member to the distal portion of said elements.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said elements are tubular. 

1. In an amusement device including an annularly shaped projectile and catching means for the projectile, the improvement comprising: said catching means including a base member supportingly connecting two normally spaced apart elongate arcuate resilient elements, said arcuate elements having a radius smaller than the radius of said annularly shaped projectile said elements capable of being flexed into projectile engaging relationship.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of said annularly shaped projectile exceeds the distance from said base member to the distal portion of said elements.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said elements are tubular. 